Pence looks to fill cleanup role

By Kevin CooneyStaff writer

Tuesday

Jan 31, 2012 at 12:01 AM

CHERRY HILL, N.J. — He will leave on Wednesday afternoon for the soothing winds, clear skies and sandy beaches of Clearwater, Fla.

And when Hunter Pence arrives to begin the countdown to his first spring training as a Phillie this week, one of the biggest things that he’ll have to get used to is how different everything is from the camps he had gone through with the Astros in Kissimmee.

“Last year what happened for me was pretty wild personally,” Pence said on Monday night before being awarded the “Good Guy Award” by the Philadelphia Sports Writers Association at its annual banquet. “There was a lot of change. Now I’m pretty acquainted with every one and I just have to get used to the one thing is spring training and finding my way around that facility. It’s one of those things you do. We have a lot to look forward to this year and I’ll be in Clearwater so early so I’ll have plenty of time to be ready.”

Pence will come to camp armed with a one-year deal for $10.4 million that was reached last week before going to arbitration. That was a process that Pence went through last year when he was with the Astros when he won a $6.9 million deal at his hearing.

“It’s more of a drive because it makes you want to do more and earn every penny because there is no such thing as something for nothing,” Pence said.

For the Phillies, Pence’s readiness to take over the cleanup spot until Ryan Howard (ruptured left Achilles tendon) returns at some point in May or June could tell the story on how the season goes for the five-time defending National League East champions.

“I think it means a whole lot,” Phillies manager Charlie Manuel said. “I look for Hunter to have a year very similar or even better than last year. He brings that life and that energy that we talk about.”

The Phillies have acknowledged that Howard will not be ready for Opening Day in Pittsburgh on April 5, with general manager Ruben Amaro Jr. stating on Monday night that he would be happy to get Howard back “by some time in May.”

With Howard out, Pence figures to move into the cleanup spot for the time being at the start of the season — and that could bring a whole different set of challenges for the guy who hit .314 with 22 homers and 98 RBIs combined between Houston and Philadelphia.

“You just go out there and you play the game to win,” Pence said. “We have confidence, but obviously when there is a guy like Ryan Howard not in the lineup you’re not as good of a team, but you still have plenty of weapons with the club we have. We know we’re going to have him whenever the run is needed coming down the stretch.”

The key for Pence, however, could be in not even thinking about it.

“It’s a Catch 22 because the harder you try, the worst you do,” Pence said. “That’s the way it is. What you do is play the game. I try to get the most Hunter Pence I can get out of myself, if that makes sense. And that’s by being prepared, trusting the process and trusting what I know helps me succeed. There’s no way to try harder in baseball. So you just go out, play hard and try to win.”

Pence was able to enjoy his first taste of postseason baseball last year when he arrived in Philadelphia. However, he was one of those who saw their bats slump in the NL Division Series loss to the Cardinals — hitting .211 with no homers and four RBIs in five games.

“It’s a lot different,” Pence said. “The different times and different schedules . . . so it’s not the same rhythm of the regular season. There is a lot more emotion in the air and it’s a lot more exciting, but it’s the same game. It was a lot of fun, but ultimately you have to play your same game. I can’t wait to get back there, but it’s a long process and nothing is guaranteed. You have to do it one day at a time and if you get another opportunity and you’re lucky, you try to catch that lightning in a bottle.”

Phillers

Manuel — who was given a special recognition award for becoming the winningest manager in Phillies history during the 2011 season — said that he anticipates talking to his team about a slight change in approach at the plate coming into the year.

“What we’re really going to key in on more is scoring in the first inning or early in the game when we’ve got guys on first and third and nobody out,” Manuel said. “We want to make sure we get a run for our starting pitching. That doesn’t mean we won’t play for big innings, but, at the same time, that’s execution.”

Manuel also said that he anticipates having Jim Thome, Ryan Sandberg and Mike Schmidt around for longer periods of time during spring training.

Kevin Cooney: 215-949-4215;

email, KCooney@phillyBurbs.com; Twitter, @KevinCooney

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